These terms govern all engagements with Allard International AI. Please read them carefully before instructing us or using our services.
Contents
These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") apply to all services provided by Allard International AI, a trading name of John Allard, whose registered office is at Mercers Manor Barns, Sherrington, Newport Pagnell, MK16 9PU, United Kingdom ("AIAI", "we", "us", "our").
By engaging our services, submitting an enquiry, signing an engagement letter, or using our website at allardai.com, you ("the Client") agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not engage our services.
These Terms form the entire agreement between AIAI and the Client in respect of the services unless expressly varied in writing by a signed engagement letter. Where a specific engagement letter contains terms that conflict with these Terms, the engagement letter shall take precedence.
AIAI provides the following categories of service:
The specific services to be provided will be confirmed in a written engagement letter or scoping document agreed between the parties before work commences.
Important: AIAI acts as an introducer and advisor. We do not provide regulated financial advice, legal advice, tax advice, or medical advice. Where such specialist advice is required, we will always recommend that the Client engages an appropriately qualified and regulated professional.
All engagements commence upon receipt of a signed engagement letter or written confirmation of instructions from an authorised representative of the Client. We reserve the right to decline any instruction without providing reasons.
The Client warrants that any person providing instructions to AIAI on its behalf has the authority to do so and to bind the Client to these Terms and any resulting financial obligations.
Instructions may be given by email, letter, or through our website contact form. Verbal instructions will be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and are not binding until so confirmed.
We reserve the right to pause or suspend work if instructions are unclear, if the Client fails to provide information reasonably requested, or if any invoice remains unpaid beyond its due date.
Where services are provided on a time and materials basis, the following standard day rates apply unless otherwise agreed in writing:
| Service type | Standard rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic advisory and consulting | £1,500 per day | 8-hour working day |
| Business audit and analysis | £1,200 per day | Includes written deliverables |
| AI and technology advisory | £1,500 per day | 8-hour working day |
| Half-day engagements | 60% of daily rate | Maximum 4 hours |
| Travel time (outside MK radius) | £150 per hour | Portal-to-portal, agreed in advance |
Day rates are reviewed annually and may be amended with 30 days written notice. Rates for engagements already in progress at the time of any rate change will not be increased mid-engagement without the Client's written consent.
Expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of services (travel, accommodation, subsistence) will be invoiced at cost with supporting receipts. Expenses above £250 per item will be agreed with the Client in advance.
Where services are provided on a risk/reward or no-win, no-fee basis, the following terms apply in addition to any specific terms in the engagement letter:
Where both a paid audit and risk/reward delivery are engaged: The audit fee is non-refundable and separate from any risk/reward fee. The audit fee is not deducted from any subsequent risk/reward fee unless expressly agreed in writing.
Where a Client elects to self-implement the Action Plan rather than engage AIAI for managed delivery, no risk/reward fee is payable. However, AIAI retains ownership of all work product, methodology, and materials produced during the audit phase.
All invoices are due and payable within 14 days of the invoice date unless otherwise specified in writing. Invoices will be sent by email to the Client's nominated billing contact.
Payment must be made by bank transfer to the account details specified on the invoice. AIAI does not accept cash payments. Card payments may be available by prior arrangement.
For day-rate engagements of more than five days, AIAI reserves the right to invoice weekly or at agreed milestones. A deposit of 25% of the estimated engagement value may be required before work commences on new client engagements.
For the 30-day audit service, the full audit fee is payable upon engagement acceptance. Work will not commence until payment has cleared.
Risk/reward fees will be invoiced within 7 days of the savings measurement date agreed in the engagement letter. The Client is required to provide supporting evidence of savings achieved within 10 business days of the measurement date to enable accurate invoicing.
All fees are exclusive of VAT. Where VAT is applicable, it will be charged at the prevailing rate and shown separately on the invoice.
If any invoice is not paid by its due date, AIAI reserves the right to exercise the following remedies, in addition to any other rights available at law:
AIAI reserves the right to report persistent non-payment to credit reference agencies. The Client acknowledges and consents to this.
Any dispute regarding an invoice must be raised in writing within 7 days of the invoice date. Disputes do not suspend the Client's obligation to pay the undisputed portion of any invoice.
All advice, recommendations, analysis, and reports provided by AIAI ("Advice") are provided in good faith and based on information available at the time of the engagement. The following limitations apply:
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, AIAI's total aggregate liability to the Client arising out of or in connection with any engagement — whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise — shall not exceed the total fees paid by the Client to AIAI in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.
AIAI shall not be liable in any circumstances for:
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes AIAI's liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law.
The Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless AIAI and its directors, employees, agents, and subcontractors from and against any claims, losses, damages, costs (including reasonable legal costs), and expenses arising out of or in connection with:
Each party agrees to keep confidential all information received from the other party that is designated as confidential or that a reasonable person would consider confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure.
AIAI's proprietary methodologies, audit frameworks, pricing models, and analytical tools are confidential and the Client shall not copy, reproduce, distribute, or reverse-engineer them.
The Client's business data, financial information, and commercial strategy shared with AIAI in connection with an engagement shall be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of that engagement.
Confidentiality obligations do not apply to information that: is or becomes publicly available through no breach of this clause; was already known to the receiving party; is independently developed without reference to the confidential information; or is required to be disclosed by law or court order.
Confidentiality obligations survive termination of the engagement for a period of three years.
All intellectual property rights in AIAI's methodologies, frameworks, tools, templates, and pre-existing materials ("AIAI IP") remain the sole property of AIAI regardless of whether they are used or adapted in the course of an engagement.
Upon full payment of all fees due, AIAI grants the Client a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the deliverables produced specifically for that engagement for the Client's own internal business purposes.
The Client retains ownership of all data, information, and materials it provides to AIAI. AIAI will not use Client data for any purpose other than the performance of the agreed engagement.
Where AIAI develops new tools, templates, or methodologies in the course of an engagement, even if informed by Client data, such tools remain the property of AIAI unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.
Both parties shall comply with all applicable data protection legislation including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
AIAI processes personal data in accordance with its Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.
Where AIAI processes personal data on the Client's behalf in the course of providing services, AIAI acts as a data processor and the Client acts as data controller. The parties will enter into appropriate data processing arrangements as required by applicable law.
Either party may terminate an engagement by giving 30 days' written notice to the other. On termination:
AIAI may terminate an engagement immediately on written notice if the Client: fails to pay any invoice within 30 days of its due date; becomes insolvent or enters administration; commits a material breach that is not remedied within 14 days of written notice; or engages in conduct that in AIAI's reasonable opinion is likely to damage AIAI's professional reputation.
These Terms and all engagements arising from them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
In the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms or any engagement, the parties agree to attempt to resolve the dispute through good faith negotiation in the first instance. If the dispute cannot be resolved by negotiation within 30 days, either party may refer the matter to mediation before pursuing formal legal proceedings.
The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute that cannot be resolved by negotiation or mediation.
Questions about these Terms? Contact us at john@allardai.com or write to: Allard International AI, Mercers Manor Barns, Sherrington, Newport Pagnell, MK16 9PU, UK.